Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: CHEMICAL

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to: (a) at the Inland Paperboard and Packaging Plant in Orange, Texas, where a Helper was exposed to silica, containing 8.8crystalline quartz, at an 8-hour Time Weighted Average of 1.51 mg/m3. The acceptable Permissible Exposure Limit for silica with 8.8 crystalline quartz is 0.926 mg/m3. Sampling was conducted for 469 minutes during the first shift on 2-25-97. Zero exposure was assumed for the remaining 11 minutes. (b) at the Inland Paperboard and Packaging Plant in Orange, Texas, where a Helper was exposed to silica, containing 7.2crystalline quartz, at an 8-hour Time Weighted Average of 2.08 mg/m3. The acceptable Permissible Exposure Limit for silica with 7.2 crystalline quartz is 1.09 mg/m3. Sampling was conducted for 467 minutes during the first shift on 2-25-97. Zero exposure was assumed for the remaining 13 minutes. (c) at the Inland Paperboard and Packaging Plant in Orange, Texas, where a Helper was exposed to silica, containing 34crystalline quartz, at an 8-hour Time Weighted Average of 1.66 mg/m3. The acceptable Permissible Exposure Limit for silica with 34 crystalline quartz is 0.28 mg/m3. Sampling was conducted for 471 minutes during the first shift on 2-25-97. Zero exposure was assumed for the remaining 9 minutes. Feasible methods of abatement may include, but are not limited to: 1. Medical surveillance, including: a. A baseline examination which includes a medical and occupational history to elicit data on signs and symptoms of respiratory disease prior to exposure to crystalline silica. This medical examination emphasizing the respiratory system should be repeated every five years if under 20 years of exposure and every two years if over 20 years of exposure. The medical examination should be repeated more frequently if respiratory symptoms develop or upon the recommendation of the examining physician. b. A baseline chest x-ray should be obtained prior to employment with a follow-up every five years if under 20 years of exposure and every two years if over 20 years of exposure. A chest x-ray may be required more frequently if determined by the examining physician. c. Pulmonary Function Tests (PFT): Should include FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in 1 second), FVC (forced vital capacity) and DLCO (diffusion lung capacity). PFTs should be obtained for a baseline examination with PFTs repeated everyfive years if under 20 years of exposure and every two years if over 20 years of exposure. PFTs may be required more frequently if respirable symptoms develop or if recommended by the examining physician. d. A chest x-ray should be obtained upon employment termination.